User Ratings & Reviews

Reviews by BeerManDan:

4.2/5 rDev +12%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

When poured into a pint glass, it was not the usual thick liquid like most porters, but, a
nice dark brown color with tan foam and some lace retention. The smell of roasted malts, chocolate and a hint of a nutty aroma filled the nose that was pleasant.

The taste was of roasted malts, semi-sweet/bitter chocolate and some kind of a nutty flavor that I can't put my hand's on.

Overall, a nicely balance Porter, that is a treat that you can enjoy anytime.

More User Reviews:

Had a huge head wich I found pretty odd for a porter and it sat there or a long time.After the foam subsided it actuall was pretty good,strong roasted malt in the smell wich was appetizing chocolate came after a few sips.One of the roasted smelling and tasting ales I have had.It did have some fruity hop flavor in it but the roasted malt flavor was much more prevalent,a decent beer.

Appearance  This porter is indeed dark. Its almost black with some light ruby highlights around the edges. The tanned head is huge and frothing.

Smell  The thick coffee grounds dominate this nose. The burnt malts are moderate and the light, milky sweetness is just enough to get noticed.

Taste  This one kind of fell apart at the taste for me. The big coffee from the nose is completely gone, the malts are light, and the sweetness barely noticeable. What happened?

Mouthfeel  This was another disappointment. While I enjoyed the malty bitterness on the tongue, this was just too light and watery for my tastes. I know a lighter body is acceptable for the style, but it just didnt go well with the flavors.

Drinkability  This one had some good bitterness but smelled and looked a lot better than it tasted.

Porter darkness woos us for the first sip, and the head is not shy at all in rising to the task at hand and then sticking around for a while. Sweet cocoa roastiness, hints of cake batter and faint blackberries in the nose. Smooth, with a fluffy crispness that makes you want to take another sip right away; very desirable mouthfeel. Malty, slightly roasty with a mild chocolate flavor, but as the sweetness kicks in, a quick splash of fruitiness jumps in too. Mild hoppiness blends in with the roasted grain to the help keep this beer on an even keel. Finishes mild and roasty, with slowing, drying graininess. A bit of charcoal and spent coffee show a last ditch blast of complexity.

Stands taller that it actually is, so the high level of drinkability comes at somewhat of a surprise--and a good one at that.

This porter pours from the bottle a nice dark color. The tan head head was decent but neither large nor long lasting. The smell was of sweet malts. The taste is a nice mixture of malt and coffee. There is a strange after taste on the lingual taste buds. A decent porter.

Appearance: Well, first AV beer packaged in a bomber form but that's just more for me to drink can't complain there. Pours a deep ruby brown safe to call it black when not held up to the light a wonderful two finger sized thicket of foamy tan head, oh I love beer. Lacing on this one thick even patches great appearance could be used in a beer commercial. Aroma: The hops are here thank you Anderson Valley for not being dainty in the hop department with your porter, the vinous hops are subdued by a creamy milky deep chocolate malt profile very nice aromatics here, oh yeah. Taste: The hop bitterness is slightly pine cone edged but the reinforcements of dark toned deep roasted malts were just too much the hops are but in the end only a finite number stick around for the party in my mouth. Deep roasted malts equal chocolate and coffe tones which in turns equals smiles on Big Tony's face. Mouthfeel: Fuller to medium in body this beer soothes one so nicely fills the appetite for dark roasted malts west coast style. Drinkability: Overall Anderson Valley keeps this one very well balanced not over the edge but not nearly as tame as some porters making this one so good at just being good.

Bottle. Nice one, soft textured, cookies and roasted malt, some toastyness, sweetish, with some dark fruits. Good length. Nothing fancy, just a pretty tasty porter. And once again, a solid beer from the fellas at Anderson Valley, nothing bad about this, drinkable and tasty, not overly complex however.

This beer pours a jet black,no light at all shines thru this, with a large tan foamy head. The smell has dark fruit, chocolate, and coffee, but it's much too weak compared to other porters. The taste has coffee, chocolate,and coffee, but once again, it's alittle thin and weak. The m/f is light,too light in my mind, and the flavors mix OK. Not a bad porter,but from Anderson Valley you expect more.

A: burnt sienna, orangish reds, and earthy brown hues in the glass. On top a bubbling foamed blob sat for a minute or two then melted away leaving globs of brown sugar colored sticky lace. Dense pockets of lace are everywhere, a good look

S: smells of chocolate and crystal malts with earthy whiffs. Smells are roasted well, as they should be, and with strong layers of cocoa. No hops to mention

T: has a strong chocolate profile. It makes me think of dry and dusty cocoa powder. It is not overly bitter but has a semi-sweet chocolate character within the roasted malts. It has just the right feel in the bitter versus sweet battle, it is a tie. I kind of wish the flavors were a bit more complex, oh well

M: I find that this Porter is a touch on the light side. Carbonation moves well throughout and takes away from it being creamy

D: light alcohol, lighter body, darker flavors, this fits within the session beer realm. Not a bad brew by any means

Black, mostly, with glimmers of magenta around the outmost edges. The head is monumental, tan and sticky.
Nose full of mild roast coffee, bitter chocolate, and pine resin.
Begins with a full roastiness, switching quickly to chocolate where it lingers a while. Grainy dark bread midway, then the hops hit with a metallic pine notion, bringing along suggestions of mint.
Lightish to medium bodied. Fluffy with its carbonation, giving it an illusory suggestion of girth.
This is an entirely decent porter, if a bit standard and mild. It holds up to almost any food you throw at it, and is drinkable in large doses. Good enough, then.

A good serviceable porter. Smooth and balanced, with understated roast, and nominal coffee. Black with lace and mild roasty and chocolate malt aroma. Licorice sweetness. Good medium to full mouthfeel.Appropriate carbonation. I finished a bomber myself.

T- I like it, starts bitter, like the bottle says a nice dark chocolate aftertaste. Slightly hoppy, but not too bitter, pretty good balance I think.

M- Average porter, medium.

D- Good example of a decent porter. I've had better, but it's tasty, just filling enough, and has a good balance. Got it on closeout at Brown Derby so figured I'd take the chance to try something new. Was pleased since it was so cheap.

Picked up a couple of bottles several months ago while I was visiting the brewery, because this beer for some reason never got shipped to Oregon. Of course, two weeks later it showed up on local store shelves...
Poured from the 22oz bottle into a pint glass. Body is a deep brown color with some ruby highlights, topped by a small, creamy white head. Mild aroma of nutty, roasted malt, with a hint of chocolate and vanilla bean. Palate is smooth roasted malt, with a touch of mild fruity hops and a bit of chocolate. The hops become more assertive on the finish, leaving a nice bit of lingering bitterness.
Body is nice, smooth and creamy, just about perfect for a porter. This is a wonderful, session-worthy porter, one of the better examples of the style I've had in a good long while.

Overall, this is a very smooth porter. The main malt flavor tastes of mellow cocoa, but most of the flavor comes through in the aftertaste. After the beer goes down you get a mixture of stout-like roasted grains and citrus hops, a nice combination of flavors. I think the rest of the beer could use more of this however, while it's still on your tongue.